To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Dale Roberts 707-547-1979
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Assessment of Flood Risk Management Services in Sonoma County
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute an agreement with HDR Engineering, Inc., in a form approved by County Counsel, for flood risk management services through June 30, 2024, in the not-to-exceed amount of $210,752.
end
Executive Summary:
Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) seeks to coordinate with partner agencies that provide flood risk management (FRM) services within Sonoma County, to develop a more collaborative approach and consider alternative models for governance. This item requests authority for Sonoma Water to enter into an agreement with HDR Engineering, Inc. (Consultant) to coordinate collaboration and improve interagency and inter-jurisdictional cooperation between partner agencies throughout Sonoma County by providing project management through a three-phase process. Phase 1 will engage FRM agencies in an initial interactive process to establish a common understanding of FRM needs, challenges, and opportunities. Phase 1 will establish baseline information and objectives for the projects as a whole. Phase 2 will supplement the baseline information developed in Phase 1 with a more detailed assessment of future conditions flood risk, to understand the degree to which needs and priorities may shift in the future with climate change. Lastly, Phase 3 will leverage the relationships and information developed in prior phases to propose options for alternative models of governance and collaboration that address the identified needs. FRM agencies would reconvene to discuss and vet these options and commit to actionable next steps. The cost of services will not exceed $210,752 with a term end date of June 30, 2024.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
FRM responsibilities in Sonoma County are spread across multiple agencies and levels of government. This fragmented system can cause confusion among those responsible for providing FRM services and lead to missed opportunities to integrate and align projects and activities. Sonoma Water has identified the need for improved coordination and alignment to achieve greater effectiveness and efficiencies in FRM. This need will continue to grow as climate change drives more intense storms and changes in watershed conditions, putting additional strain on services and resources.
Consultant will act as a neutral third-party to convene partner agencies that provide FRM services to develop a more collaborative approach and improve coordination amongst FRM agencies. Sonoma Water’s objectives for the collaboration include:
• Documenting historic, current, and future flood risk.
• Clarifying flood management responsibilities and opportunities.
• Improving interagency and inter-jurisdiction coordination.
• Improving positioning for state and federal funding.
• Reducing risk to life safety and property via enhanced organizational effectiveness.
• Enhancing environmental protection.
The collaboration effort will occur in three phases:
• Phase 1 will engage FRM agencies in an initial interactive process to establish a common understanding of FRM needs, challenges, and opportunities, establishing baseline information and objectives.
• Phase 2 will supplement the baseline information developed in Phase 1 with a more detailed assessment of future conditions flood risk, to understand the degree to which needs and priorities may shift in the future with climate change.
• Phase 3 will develop and propose options for alternative models of governance and collaboration that address the needs identified in phase 1 and phase 2. FRM agencies will reconvene to discuss and vet these options and commit to actionable next steps.
SELECTION PROCESS
Consultant was selected from a list of qualified consultants developed from a competitive selection process. Attached is a memo that explains the competitive selection process.
Consultant was selected for the subject work because of its experience in flood control management in Sonoma County and demonstrated understanding of Sonoma Water’s needs.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the agreement, Consultant will provide project management, collect information on FRM services, challenges, and opportunities, facilitate FRM management workshops, and develop a recommendations report on potential future actionable items.
The cost of services will not exceed $210,752; the term end date is June 30, 2024.
The agreement includes authorization for the General Manager to make changes to lengthen time schedules or make minor modifications to the scope of work, which do not increase the amount paid under the agreement, in a form approved by County Counsel.
The agreement includes two options for Sonoma Water to extend the term for a period of one year each by providing written notice to Consultant thirty days in advance of the expiration date of the agreement and of the first extension option. The extension will be formalized in an amended agreement or amendment signed by Sonoma Water and Consultant.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Resilient Infrastructure
Goal: Goal 5: Support, fund, and expand flood protection.
Objective: Objective 1: Develop partnerships with cities, tribal governments, and private organizations regarding flood protection and sustainability to identify gaps and address climate change impacts.
Sonoma Water seeks to collaborate with other FRM agencies to explore Sonoma County’s need for adequate flood risk management. This interagency collaboration would allow Sonoma Water to receive input from multiple stakeholders, which would then be incorporated into recommendations for decision makers to select action items and prioritize further efforts to support, fund, and expand flood protection measures and policies.
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
Climate Change, Goal 1: Continuing improving our ability to respond and adapt to climate change.
Sonoma County is one of the most flood prone counties in the Western United States. Compounding this issue, the increased risk of flooding in the future has been identified by Sonoma Water as part of its Climate Adaptation Plan process to be a significant climate change impact throughout the county. To address this issue, there must be a more comprehensive approach than isolated actions by Sonoma Water alone. To that end, this agreement provides a vital first step towards more comprehensive and integrated climate adaptation for flood risks throughout Sonoma County.
Prior Board Actions:
02/02/2022: Approved Climate Action & Resiliency Division’s Climate Resiliency Funding recommendations, including Sonoma Water’s Regional Flood Risk Assessment Project.
10/19/2021: Approved Sonoma Water’s Climate Adaptation Plan.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 22-23 Adopted |
FY23-24 Projected |
FY 24-25 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$210,752 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$210,752 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
$210,752 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$210,752 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $210,752 is available from FY 2022/2023 appropriations for the Flood Control Zone 2A fund. No additional appropriation is required. Funding is from PG&E settlement funds as part of Climate Action & Resiliency Division’s Climate Resiliency Funding recommendations approved by Board in February 2022.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment 1: Competitive Selection Process Memo
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None